# How do you get rid of Windows XP install message? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 26, 2004, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-get-rid-of-windows-xp-install-message/231248 "2004-02-26T05:44:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Nobody](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/94ad74/32.png) [@Nobody](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nobody)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2004, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-get-rid-of-windows-xp-install-message/231248/1 "2004-02-26T05:44:21Z")
A while ago my wife bought Windows XP from eBay thinking it was an upgrade, but it turned out to be the full version, and for some reason, full versions of Windows don’t upgrade previous versions. So, she quit install, and thought that it was over, except now, every time her or I reboot, we keep getting an option to either install Windows XP, or start Windows 98se. It’s automatically set to install, and has a short timer, which, when it runs out, if we don’t catch it in time, will give an error message about a missing dll file, then the computer locks up and we have to reboot again. So how do we get rid of that boot up option? Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![collinsc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f6c823/32.png) [@collinsc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/collinsc)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2004, 6:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-get-rid-of-windows-xp-install-message/231248/2 "2004-02-26T06:53:00Z")
Right click on My Computer and select properties. It has been a long time since I’ve used 98, but you should be able to find, likely under the Advanced tabbed, some Startup and Recovery options. Did your wife purchase XP Home or Professional Edition? I don’t recall the details, but some previous versions of Windows could be upgraded and some could not. I believe it was the NT-based systems did not require a complete reinstall. If you’re up for it, going through the XP install will definitely be worth your time if your other option is 98se. ---
**Author:** ![Rex\_Fenestrarum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rex_fenestrarum/32/7265_2.png) [@Rex\_Fenestrarum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rex_Fenestrarum)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2004, 7:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-get-rid-of-windows-xp-install-message/231248/3 "2004-02-26T07:08:32Z")
> [@Joel](#): > > So how do we get rid of that boot up option? Thanks. _Technically_ you can’t. It’s BOOT.INI - the Windows NT\2000\XP boot loader. It looks like you installed XP to either a different partition or didn’t do a reformat of said partition before the reinstall. To fix it, do what **collinsc** suggests: 1. Right-click “My Computer” \> Properties. 2. Click the “Advanced” tab \> Startup and Recovery \> Settings 3. Make sure that XP is listed in the “Default operating system” box (actually, it should say _“Microsoft Windows XP Professional” /fastdetect_ (or “XP Home” of course if that’s what you’re running) 4. Change value of “Time to display list of operating systems” to either 0 or 1. I’m worried that perhaps you might still be using FAT32 instead of NTFS for your filesystem though. If you open “My Computer” and right click on your system drive does it say FAT32 or NTFS??? FAT32 is TEH DEVIL! ---
**Author:** ![collinsc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f6c823/32.png) [@collinsc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/collinsc)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2004, 7:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-get-rid-of-windows-xp-install-message/231248/4 "2004-02-26T07:29:50Z")
> [@Rex Fenestrarum](#): > > FAT32 is TEH DEVIL! I didnt go into any more detail because he isn’t in XP. It has been years since I’ve used 98. **Joel** is attempting to _not_ use XP. ---
**Author:** ![Rex\_Fenestrarum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rex_fenestrarum/32/7265_2.png) [@Rex\_Fenestrarum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rex_Fenestrarum)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2004, 7:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-get-rid-of-windows-xp-install-message/231248/5 "2004-02-26T07:33:05Z")
Oh! heh! Silly me! Go to the Control Panel \> Add\Remove Programs \> Windows Disk and make yourself and Windows 98 floppy disk. Restart the computer, booting off said floppy. Assuming that the partition in question is C:, type the following at the command-prompt: FDISK /MBR then type SYS C: Remove the disk and reboot. You should be good to go now. ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2004, 11:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-get-rid-of-windows-xp-install-message/231248/6 "2004-02-26T11:03:17Z")
> [@Joel](#): > > full versions of Windows don’t upgrade previous versions. 😕 …the full XP Home disc upgraded from 98 fine for me. ---
**Author:** ![rookie523](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/71c47a/32.png) [@rookie523](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rookie523)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2004, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-get-rid-of-windows-xp-install-message/231248/7 "2004-02-26T14:33:44Z")
Yes. Full version of Windows XP gives you the option to either upgrade Windows or do Clean install (start new). If you select, upgrade, all your settings will remain from your previous Windows. It is odd if there is no option to upgrade… ---
**Author:** ![Number](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/number/32/242_2.png) [@Number](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Number)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2004, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-get-rid-of-windows-xp-install-message/231248/8 "2004-02-26T14:54:46Z")
You’ll need to manually edit the file **C:\BOOT.INI** to remove the entry for Windows XP Setup. There are a lot of things that can go wrong with this though, and if you don’t get it right then your system will not be bootable. It would be best to have an experienced tech do it. At the very least you should make one or more backup copies and know how to restore them in DOS from a Win98 boot disk. ---
**Author:** ![Rex\_Fenestrarum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rex_fenestrarum/32/7265_2.png) [@Rex\_Fenestrarum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rex_Fenestrarum)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2004, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-get-rid-of-windows-xp-install-message/231248/9 "2004-02-26T16:27:28Z")
> [@Number](#): > > You’ll need to manually edit the file **C:\BOOT.INI** to remove the entry for Windows XP Setup. But why do that when FDISK /MBR removes BOOT.INI from the MBR To begin with? It’ll still be on the disk, but it won’t be used and he’ll be able to delete it if he wants to. With your way, if they change BOOT.INI and accidentally (or willfully) delete it six months from now their system won’t boot. With my way it won’t matter. ---
**Author:** ![Number](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/number/32/242_2.png) [@Number](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Number)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2004, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-get-rid-of-windows-xp-install-message/231248/10 "2004-02-26T17:49:01Z")
After some testing I agree that yours is the better method. It’s the **SYS** command that does it though. **FDISK /MBR** doesn’t affect whether **BOOT.INI** is used. ---
**Author:** ![typhoon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ed8c4c/32.png) [@typhoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/typhoon)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2004, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-get-rid-of-windows-xp-install-message/231248/11 "2004-02-26T17:58:08Z")
> [@rookie523](#): > > Yes. Full version of Windows XP gives you the option to either upgrade Windows or do Clean install (start new). > > If you select, upgrade, all your settings will remain from your previous Windows. > > It is odd if there is no option to upgrade… I had an OEM version of Windows 2000 that couldn’t be upgraded to XP. The OP might have the same deal. ---
**Author:** ![Nobody](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/94ad74/32.png) [@Nobody](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nobody)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2004, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-get-rid-of-windows-xp-install-message/231248/12 "2004-02-26T23:56:40Z")
> [@Rex Fenestrarum](#): > > Oh! heh! Silly me! > > Go to the Control Panel \> Add\Remove Programs \> Windows Disk and make yourself and Windows 98 floppy disk. Restart the computer, booting off said floppy. Assuming that the partition in question is C:, type the following at the command-prompt: > > FDISK /MBR > > then type > > SYS C: > > Remove the disk and reboot. You should be good to go now. My wife (gr8kat) did what you said, and everything works fine now. She would thank you herself, but has been busy all day, so I’m thanking you for her. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Rex\_Fenestrarum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rex_fenestrarum/32/7265_2.png) [@Rex\_Fenestrarum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rex_Fenestrarum)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2004, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-get-rid-of-windows-xp-install-message/231248/13 "2004-02-27T00:54:38Z")
Anytime! 🙂